Acoustic Guitar - Advice please

I'm not sure this is the right place to post this but. . .

I want to buy my son a good quality Acoustic as a surprise X-mas gift. I'm thinking of a price bracket somewhere between £200 - £400. Any and all advice will be greatly accepted. Thanks.

I've never really bought an extremely good quality guitar but a couple of years ago, I had a friend who bought his from Manchester for about 500 pounds.

So, I think yeah, maybe 300 to 400 would be a decent price.

i think if you shop around mate you will find one cheaper than that.. just go to some music shops and ask advice...

iv got a fender telecoustic which is the one that sounds the best of all the ones iv brought and its not the most expensive.. cant remember exactly but it was under 200.. around 180 if i rack my brains

they will give you honest advice in the specialist shops lad

Just echoing what's been said.  I think, for a beginner you could probably go cheaper than £200.  I'd visit your local shop and have a chat.  If he's only a nipper, you can get smaller guitars which I think are called 'student' guitars or something.

Or, you can get some pretty nice electric guitar starter kits (if he's more of a rocker) - guitar, leads, spare strings and amplifier for around £120.  I bought an excellent one off ebay for Mrs Squirrel a couple of years back.

I was going to tell you to buy a Giannini but I just checked and they're Brazilian so you probably won't find one in NI. Can't help much then!

I'm not sure this is the right place to post this but. . .

I want to buy my son a good quality Acoustic as a surprise X-mas gift. I'm thinking of a price bracket somewhere between £200 - £400. Any and all advice will be greatly accepted. Thanks.

My uncle John has 2 sons who are mad on guitars mate. One is 11 and one is 14, they've been playing them for  years, he's back in work next week so i'll ask him for some advice if you want?.

Just echoing what's been said.  I think, for a beginner you could probably go cheaper than £200.  I'd visit your local shop and have a chat.  If he's only a nipper, you can get smaller guitars which I think are called 'student' guitars or something.

Or, you can get some pretty nice electric guitar starter kits (if he's more of a rocker) - guitar, leads, spare strings and amplifier for around £120.  I bought an excellent one off ebay for Mrs Squirrel a couple of years back.

I should have said that he's anything but a beginner r_s. I bought him his first electric when he was 11 (7 years ago now) and he's sh*t hot. The last guitar I bought him was an Ernie Ball 'Luke'. He's just never had his own acoustic.

I want to surprise him for x-mas but maybe that ain't a good idea.

My uncle John has 2 sons who are mad on guitars mate. One is 11 and one is 14, they've been playing them for  years, he's back in work next week so i'll ask him for some advice if you want?.

Yeah mate, if you could. I'm thinking 'best in price bracket' type of stuff and 'where to buy'.

I'm taking from what i've read that your based in Northern Ireland?...If this is true have you had a look at the Matchetts store in belfast?..
They are a Taylor Guitar dealer and these guitars are brilliant and well priced and if he's as good as you say he his he won't be disapointed playing one of these..and above all they last forever...
Here's a quick link to their website...http://www.matchettsmusic.com/products/100005/100007/guitars/acoustic-guitars/
Ideally he need to go into the shop and try a few out but as its a surprise you may have to do some detective work to suss out the size of the neck he prefers compared to his finger size and what gauge strings he prefers etc...Also if he already has a couple of Electrics then its probably best to get an acoustic with a built in pre-amp so he can plug it into his amp...
Also make sure the guys in the shop set it up for you and see if you can get a stand & some spare strings thrown in...oh and get a gig bag/case..
best o luck mate...

I'm taking from what i've read that your based in Northern Ireland?...If this is true have you had a look at the Matchetts store in belfast?..
They are a Taylor Guitar dealer and these guitars are brilliant and well priced and if he's as good as you say he his he won't be disapointed playing one of these..and above all they last forever...

Thanks for that info mate. Yeah I'll be wandering round Matchett's this week and strangely enough after a lot of research I had been looking more towards Taylor Guitars. I was thinking a baby Taylor (for when he goes to Uni which sparked the quest as he won't be brining any of his electrics with him) and maybe another full size (Simon and Patrick woodland spruce) - if I can get both cheap enough.

Another 'travel' I've been looking at is the Breedlove D20-FS Passport Series Acoustic Guitar.

Also make sure the guys in the shop set it up for you and see if you can get a stand & some spare strings thrown in...oh and get a gig bag/case..
best o luck mate...

For sure mate - I'll torment the F**k out of any dealer. Thanks again for taking the time out to help.

I'll be keeping tabs (excuse the pun) on this thread, took up the guitar again on Thursday night after a ten year absence and could do with a new guitar in the coming months.

Washburn D10SCE

You won't get better for the money, and even for a lot more money in some cases - then you can buy a little practice amp or whatever else he needs

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/acoustic_guitars/washburn/d10sce/index.html

Review of the Washburn D10SCE Deluxe Electro-Acoustic Guitar

I've had one for a few years, and it's wonderfull - plays better than guitars much more expensive, and sounds great as well.

Nice guitar that Washburn KIK and I agree , for the money its well worth it...the Breedlove's are also nice too...
There's loads of decent acoustics around these days for the budget you have stated BBB which can confuse your head in when it comes to making a decision , especially if its a surprise present...
I suppose my only concern for yer man would be how he looks after it in his uni digs and whether he uses it to party with when his mates are round sinking a few beers having a midnight singalong as well as the obvious security thing..My daughter had her gaff broken into when she was in digs at Leeds uni last year and had her laptop , i-pod etc stolen so i'm sure a tasty looking baby Taylor sat there inviting on a stand would light up any tealeaf's eye...shame I know we have to even think of that....He might even form a band when he's there with some friends or even do some busking?..check on getting it insured..won't be that much , worth it though..
Might be cool to go for something that he can just grow and learn on for now and get the odd war wound on until he gets his graduation?..Then who knows mate, the dosh he could well go onto earn he could buy himself a really nice Guild or Gibson jumbo or even a Lowden if his love for the guitar still remains...upto you I suppose but I'm sure he'll enjoy playing any of the ones we've mentioned...
best o luck mate and hope he settles in okay wherever he's going

I want to buy my son a good quality Acoustic as a surprise X-mas gift. I'm thinking of a price bracket somewhere between £200 - £400.

Well...?
Was he the happiest guy in town on the 25th?
Or did you keep it for yourself and get him a new watch and some aftershave?.

What's the exchange rate..... 400 pounds about what $650 US?

If so I'd check out a Martin DX1. I have had one for years and it's a great entry level Martin.

Was he the happiest guy in town on the 25th?

Yeah... I got Jake a 2nd hand, mint condition, Simon & Patrick Woodland Series: Cedar (top), Mahogany (back and sides) Dreadnought along with a Hiscox hard-case for £300 all-in.

Yeah... I got Jake a 2nd hand, mint condition, Simon & Patrick Woodland Series: Cedar (top), Mahogany (back and sides) Dreadnought along with a Hiscox hard-case for £300 all-in.

Nice.....I'm Jealous....very Jealous !!..